Mastering the Art of French Cooking (2 Volume Set)

Mastering the Art of French Cooking ReviewI'm in my 60's and realize how lucky I am to have grown up in a household where we ate home grown meats and vegetables, and made food from scratch. Recipes were handed down from generations, and I learned to cook from other family members.Mastering the Art of French Cooking is a Masterpiece I never thought I needed, but because of Julia Child's iconic status, and memories of my older brother watching her on TV, I thought this set would be fun to have.Well, I have found describing these books as "fun to have" does not begin to do them justice.Before I even began looking at the recipes themselves, I was captivated by reading the history of how they came to be. These volumes are truly a labor of love, a result of Julia's desire to learn, that evolved into the greater desire to share her knowledge in such a way to give others the confidence to tackle anything in the kitchen.The first seven chapters of the first volume provide a solid foundation for understanding the purposes of different equipment in the kitchen, definitions of numerous cooking terms, ingredients, measurements and equivalents, temperature guidelines, the difference between things like chopping, slicing, dicing, and mincing, cooking with, and storing/serving wine. Having a basic understanding of these things takes the mystery out of reading through a recipe.Having a straightforward physical book, with illustrations, is in and of itself, refreshing, in these days of clever videos. It's easy to go back and re-read something, or highlight information you want to remember.Julia understood the importance of using high quality ingredients, something that can easily be lost in today's world when processed foods/restaurants/food delivery are readily available and seem like an easy choice.Food can bring people together. The effort to prepare a home cooked meal for others sends a welcoming vibe, and can be much more meaningful than simply meeting up at a restaurant. It can also serve as a social activity for friends/family who want to learn together.These books are proudly displayed on my otherwise bare kitchen counter, serving as a beautiful reminder of the many positives of Julia Child's works.

Anyone who reads learns quickly not to judge a book by its cover. And in this case it is doubly important because neither the look nor the title serve as any indication of what is inside this classic tome. It could be argued that it is impossible to "master the art..." by reading a book, and I would agree. What is important, however, is realizing the breadth of understanding that can be gained by a careful reading of this work. It is an important work not only because of its timeliness when it was in its infancy and first published, but because it shares a timeless look into the history of the culinary arts as seen through eyes shaded by French gastronomy.I watched the movie "Julie & Julia", the theme from which was derived from the over five hundred recipes in this two volume set, and I also remember some of the episodes from Julia Childs early television career. I truly enjoyed the movie, but the early Julia Child television stuff was not something that modern television producers would consider a first class effort. I think, perhaps, that we become somewhat jaded by modern television and the almost universal accessibility of convenience based communication.Thankfully, bound printed journals such as this do not suffer the decay that is so prevalent in today's digital world. You can be proud of the wonderful books that you own. You can read and re-read them and enjoy them for many years, then pass them down to others who are free to enjoy them too. "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" belongs to that very select group that I own...and will never part with. This set joins many others, but is one of a few that I really enjoy re-reading. Every time I take them from their place on the shelf and page through them, I learn something new. Gaining knowledge is in itself a good thing.No, you will not become a master French chef by reading these volumes. You will, however, gain a terrific insight into French gastronomy and pick up some great tips. All of which will serve you well as you strive to prepare that special dish or try to understand the reasoning behind "mother sauces" and how it affects the homemade mac & cheese dish that your child relishes.There are many reasons to read and own "Mastering the Art of French Cooking", but staying current with modern French cuisine is not one of them. If however, you love 'continental' cuisine or maybe just have an insatiable desire to better understand the history of gastronomy that pre-dates modern canned and packaged goodness, then this two volume set will serve you well. And, who knows, you too may be enticed to travel the road of Julie and prepare all five hundred plus recipes firmly embedded in "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" and in the history of food world wide.Enjoy!

Got it as a gift and it came quick and perfect condition. If someone wants to get into French cooking this is essential to have as it teaches as well as provides recipes. Also looks really nice in this two book set.

Always wanted to read and cook Julia Child.

Classic. A must have for learning French cooking from a legend.